“Nobody will come to build wreaths during the week. Most people are working. You should wait until the town holiday festival next weekend to do that.”
“I was,” Kenna tried to find another point to argue with. “Oh, I was going to decorate a couple of trees for my “How to use what you’ve got” classes.”
“All of that you can do later. For now, you need to rest that leg. I only have this one week to help you.” Leon folded his arms over his chest. “I suggest you take advantage of me while you can.” His smile made his gray eyes sparkle like polished silver.
Kenna sank into the black leather chair that matched the elegant leather sofa. Everything was stark white and black with a few accenting pieces of yellow and orange. It was more like a showroom than a home.
“I’m sorry, Leon. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I really do appreciate your help. It’s just, I’m not used to being grounded like this. What am I supposed to do?”
He scooted an orange velvet ottoman toward her and then carefully lifted her braced leg. “I’ll get some ice. Would you like something to drink? Perhaps a snack?” He turned on the large screen television and set the remote on the armrest beside her. “Your helpers came by earlier today. They claimed it’s a school holiday, though I have a feeling they’re playing hooky.” He shrugged. “Still, I should return. Mr. McCarty said he’d stop in from time to time and help me. So your lot is well covered.”
Kenna took the remote and turned it over in her hands. She hardly ever watched television. “Thank you, so much. I hope I’m not being a pain.”
“You’re not.” He took her case and went to the first room along the hall. “You can sleep in the guest room. Get some rest and call if you need anything.”
“Okay, I will.” Kenna held up her right hand to pledge her sincerity. He was right, after all. The more she rested now, the sooner she’d be back up and going again. She only needed the swelling to go down in her leg, then she could wrap it and not have to wear the constricting brace as much.
After bringing her a bottle of water and a large bag of cheese chips, he stared down at her, lips pressed tightly together until she said again, “I mean it. I’ll behave. I will. And I won’t even stand at the window staring at you.” She flipped a couple of channels. “Promise.”
With a nod, he grabbed a blanket off the back of the sofa and draped it over her. It was soft and smelled of fresh laundry soap. He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, told her to call if she needed anything, then slipped out the front door like a soft breeze.
She’d never met anyone who said so much without saying much at all.
* * * *
Leon breathed in the fresh scent of pine. Not many people stopped in to purchase trees. He set a few of the best and fullest ones closer to the road where they were more visible. Each one was already tagged with a price. That must be something her parents determined when they cut them down.
Kenna said her parents owned several acres of wild, tree-covered land. When they cut down trees to sell, they replanted that section with new ones. During the spring and summer months, her family ran a garden store. The Allenders sounded as if they were a resourceful family.
From the way she talked about her family that night he stayed with her at the hospital, they were very close. She had ten siblings, ranging from almost thirty all the way down to thirteen! The older ones helped to sell trees. The younger ones helped at the farm. Everyone in the family worked in some way or another. Leon was terribly jealous, in an odd way.
Kenna had not wanted to worry anyone or cause her parents to abandon their own tree shop to come all the way to Madison Creek. She’d wanted to prove she could take care of herself.
He admired her.
Which was why he’d asked Uncle to cash in some of his vacation time. His request was sudden and certainly unexpected, but his uncle wasn’t one to probe. None of his family was. They were a live-and-let-live type of family. Now that he’d moved away from home, his parents hardly ever called. Of course, they’d always had busy lives with their jobs. Dad was a financial banker working for larger corporations. Mom worked for a fashion design company. Neither of them was home much and left Leon’s care in the hands of a series of nannies and the school system.
He shook his head, wondering what it would be like to be in Kenna’s shoes. With a large family. Ten siblings! He couldn’t even imagine sharing a house with that many people. He’d had a small taste of big family life while staying at the Madison Bed and Breakfast. Haley Madison, whose family the town was named after, was more like him, from a smaller family. But her husband, Ethan Winters, seemed to have family and friends coming out of the woodwork and their holiday tables were always crowded, lively affairs.
Leon enjoyed being given an invite.
This year, he wasn’t sure what he’d do. Stay and hope for another invite to Haley’s B&B, or fly to New York and deal with Marcy.
He liked his quiet, simple life where he made a decent living, working at a respectable establishment. He had just enough friends to keep him from feeling lonely.
Marcy had filled that role for the past couple of years until her aspirations grew beyond the little lakeside town.
He unfolded one of the camping chairs propped beside Kenna’s little camper. She said it was her home, except when she was on holiday break from college. While at college, she found it cheaper to rent a camping spot near the campus, than to rent an apartment. And she’d spent her whole life sharing her living spaces. She enjoyed having a room all to herself.
He admired her. She was cute, even with those crooked glasses, which actually made her more endearing. Instead of complaining about it, she’d simply went about trying to fix them as best as she could. Kenna Allender was like a breath of fresh air.
Leon sat up with a scowl, knowing he shouldn’t be thinking about her in this way. She was only passing through and he was committed to Marcy. The big question was how committed was Marcy to him?
After an hour of no customers and moving the trees to various locations several times over, Leon decided he needed to help this process along. He started in the A’s of his contact list and began working his way down.
“Hello, Mrs. Alton. How are you today?” he asked the antique store owner, keeping his voice upbeat and cheerful. They were frequent customers of Miss Haley’s restaurant. “I was wondering if you’ve purchased your Christmas tree yet?” He went into explaining what he was doing and how he was trying to help out a friend. “I can deliver it to you.”
He glanced at his little Cooper and cringed. Well, maybe if he put a blanket on the top, he could manage to get the tree to them without scratching up his baby.
“Matter-of-fact,” Daisy Alton replied, “I was thinking of setting up an extra tree in my tea shop. I’d considered having my niece Sara pull out the old fake one, but if you’re trying to help a friend, I don’t see why I can’t contribute to a good cause. Have you checked with Haley-girl yet? They’ll be wanting trees for the lodge, the Victorian, and the music studio, I’m sure.”
Leon smiled. “I was going to call her next and hope she hadn’t already bought them.”
“She hasn’t. She was in earlier this morning saying it was on her list of things to do. Better call her quick, dear. She’s out running errands in town as we speak.”
Leon’s pulse quickened. If he could score a sale from the Winters that would take care of a good portion of his stock. His mind began ticking off everyone else he could try calling. After taking an order from Mrs. Alton, who promised to spread the word and get folks out to his tree lot, he dialed Haley.
She answered with her usual, upbeat drawl, “Hey ya, Sugar. What’s my favorite cook doing today? Do you have a day off?”
“Yes, ma’am. A week actually.” He went into his explanation and made sure to mention that it was Haley’s aunt who suggested that he call her right away. “I hear you’re looking for some trees. These on my lot are Michigan-grown and freshly cut. They were delivered
from the farm this morning.”
“Oh, really?” Her voice became muffled as she spoke to someone else. Probably Mr. Ethan. The couple was practically inseparable since their big wedding last year. “You know I do love buying local. We’re just finishing our lunch and will head over that way. You’re at the tourist park, are you?”
“Yes, ma’am. You can’t miss it.” He gave a little hop of excitement. “If you know of anyone else looking for trees, pass the word, will you?”
She promised that she’d get right on that. When he ended the call, he immediately sent a text to Kenna, hoping she wasn’t sleeping, yet hoping she was. She needed to rest that leg. Still, he was too excited to not let her know about his sales.
Kenna sent back a text filled with hearts and happy faces.
Leon made a few more calls while he set out a tree for Mrs. Alton. She’d given him a size and price range. He wondered how firm Kenna was with her prices and was about to call her to ask when he received an incoming call.
Thinking it was Kenna calling, he answered with, “I was just about to call you.”
Marcy responded in her sing-song voice, “You were? And here I was afraid you’d already forgotten about me. You haven’t called since we talked the other night. Tell Merci that you’re not put out with her, are you?”
“No! Of course not.” He said while trying to drag one of the larger trees out from the pile behind the tent. Haley said she wanted three of the biggest ones he had.
“You sound all out of breath. What are you doing, Pookie?”
He paused, wondering if he should tell her. Well, he didn’t want to fib and she’d probably find out if she called any of her old friends, anyway. Though he wasn’t sure she still spoke with anyone from town these days. She’d said she had outgrown Madison Creek and had no ties there anymore. Her mother had moved to California with her new husband. No wonder she was so eager to start fresh somewhere else.
“Well, it’s a long story. Are you sure you have the time?”
Through the line, he could hear her huff of annoyance. “Actually, I’m about to head out. I’m going shopping with some friends I made at the agency. Oh, and there’s a huge party being thrown by this famous clothing designer tomorrow night. She has an amazing penthouse that overlooks the Hudson. My manager, Benton, invited me to go along with him. Can you believe that?” Her squeal nearly caused Leon to drop his phone.
“Wow, that’s…” he wasn’t sure how to finish his thought. He wasn’t even sure what he was feeling at the moment. Strange. Shouldn’t he be jealous, or even worried? He wasn’t.
“I know right?” she hurried on. “Oh, baby, you have to book your flight. I know I promised to come home for Christmas, but there’s no way. Not now. Everything is going so fast. I’ve had so many new offers from clothing designers. Oh, and I know of a couple of restaurants that are looking for new chefs. I was even able to brag you up. You should see this place, Leon honey. It makes the Lakeshore look like a run-down cafe.”
“Hey, don’t say that about my uncle’s restaurant.” He didn’t want to get annoyed with her. “Listen, I was—” he started to explain what had happened over the past couple of days, but she cut him off again.
“Oh, don’t be mad, baby. Merci is only kidding. Listen, hon, I need to jet. Call me later? Oh, wait… well, I’ll call you when I have a moment. Be sure to book that plane ticket. You said you’d think about flying up here and spending a week with me.”
“But—” he’d just used up most of his vacation.
“Love you, sweetums.” She made kissing noises into the phone. “Bye-bye.”
The call ended. He’d not had a chance to tell her anything. Well, if she did find out through the rumor mill, it wouldn’t be his fault. He tried to tell her, even if he’d been slow to call and explain. Deep down, he didn’t think she’d really care anyway.
At that moment, an old, blue pick-up truck parked next to the display of trees. Ethan got out first, then went around to open the passenger side door.
Leon smiled and headed out to meet them. “Hey guys, great to see you.” He shook Ethan’s hand, then found himself pulled in for a quick hug before Haley got to him with kisses on his cheek and fussing over how nice he looked today. Her curly blond hair was in the process of escaping the messy bun she’d tied it back in.
“Well,” she wiped a few pine needles off his burgundy, silk shirt. “You always look as if you’ve stepped out of a fashion magazine.”
While Leon showed them the trees he’d set aside for them, Ethan checked out the camper. Patting the side, he smirked. “Boy, does this bring back memories of my aunt’s flamingo camper.”
Leon remembered that rolling monstrosity well. His buddy Nikolai had lived in it until getting the job at the electronics store. Then someone else had stayed in it for a while. “Did you ever sell it?”
Ethan shook his head. “I don’t have the heart to. It’s like a family heirloom now. My little brother Jeremy lives in it, though he’s managed to paint over the flamingos that were on the outside.”
Haley shook her head with a roll of her brilliant blue eyes. “I voted to sell it but lost. No biggie. You learn to give and let go in a relationship. How’s your girl? Marcy…oh wait. She went and changed her name, right?”
“I was just talking to Merci, as she likes to be called now. She’s living it up in New York.” He didn’t say anymore and ducked his head when Haley’s gaze narrowed in question. Changing the subject, he said, “I picked out the tallest trees I could find. Are you sure you only want three?”
“Three big’uns, and four smaller ones.” She said with a determined nod.
Ethan’s mouth dropped. “Haley Isabelle. Whatever for?”
Her pink lips pursed. “I have a place for each and every last one, Ethan Gene. Besides, it’s for a good cause. Poor girl wrecking her car and being injured.”
Leon had failed to mention he was the reason for the accident. He liked being on Miss Haley’s good side.
“Where is your new friend, anyway?”
“Resting her leg. I’ve put her up in my apartment.”
Ethan’s brows shot up his forehead, beneath his long bangs. “For real? Haley said you’d taken a week off work, but…”
She patted Leon’s cheek. “See, I raised this boy up right. I’m so proud of you, Sugar, wanting to help her. God will bless your good deeds.”
Leon ducked his head, hoping so. He needed the extra blessings. “You’re a good influence, Miss Haley. Will you be paying with cash or a check?”
* * * *
“You did what?” Kenna exclaimed, standing too quickly. A stab of pain shot across her knee, making her gasp and reach for the back of the chair. “How many?”
“Easy there.” Leon held a pizza box in one hand while steadying her with the other. “I made a few calls. I have the cash in my pocket. Let’s get you over to the table and we’ll talk while we eat. I’m starving.”
Kenna made her way to the polished dining room table with her crutches, her mind still spinning from his news. Leon pulled out a chair for her. What a gentleman. Unfortunately, she fell into it like a dizzy ape, nearly dropping the crutches that banged against the table. She cringed and checked to see if they made any dents in the polished wood.
“Don’t worry,” he took them from her and rested them beside the chair. “This was a hand-me-down from my mother’s old house before she moved. Most of my furniture came from her, matter-of-fact.”
“It’s so nice,” she ran her fingers over the edge where a small nick had been left behind from her clumsiness. The only thing she didn’t care for was the starkness. It almost left her feeling cold most of the day. She missed her homey camper. “You’re probably going to feel claustrophobic in my little home.”
He set down two plates with black and gold decorations running along the edges, then opened the pizza box. At least their dinner fare wouldn’t be out of her league.
“I like your camper.” He pulled out a sli
ce for himself, after giving her first pick. “It’s festive with all the lights and decorations. And it smells like pine and cinnamon.”
Kenna smiled. Leon seemed sincere. He took the chair catty-corner to hers and dished them both out some of the salad he had also ordered. “Are you the kind who likes ranch dressing with their pizza?”
Her cheeks flushed as she nodded. “Guilty. Do you have some?”
“I’m guilty, too. So, of course, I have some. It drives Marcy nuts.”
“Yeah,” Kenna picked up her fork and poked at the lettuce. She’d reminded herself time and again that he had a girlfriend and she needed to remember that. A beautiful, classy girlfriend that matched his classy décor and fine clothing he always wore. “My parents say the same thing. Oh well, they’re missing out on goodness. Their loss.”
He was back with a large bottle. He must like that stuff a lot! “That’s what I think, too. I keep extras in the pantry so I won’t run out.”
“So resourceful.” Kenna was happy to learn he wasn’t completely out of her league. She needed a friend and was grateful for his help. “I still can’t believe you sold all those trees. Normally it would take me a week. I can call Dad and tell him to get ready to send more.” She sat back in the straight-backed chair. “I still might have a chance to beat my brother for the bonus money.” Her smile faded. “I’m going to need it. Mr. Beaty called this afternoon and doesn’t think the VW is worth repairing. And the insurance said they would only pay me the value, which isn’t much.” She sighed. “It’ll be fine. Something will work out. After today, I can’t lose faith now.”
Leon gazed at her with a tender expression. “When your leg has healed, you can use my car to get around town if you need to go somewhere. I can walk to work from here and usually do so as long as the weather holds out.”
Kenna was shaking her head. “I’ve already imposed enough. And you’ve been such a lifesaver.”
His features darkened. “If I had been paying better attention, you wouldn’t be in this predicament.”
A Thousand Wishes: A Romance Christmas Story (Madison Creek Town Series Novella Book 4) Page 4